ESSENTIAL OIL COMPOSITION AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF ARTEMISIA HERBA-ALBA ASSO GROWN IN MOROCCO.

Volatile components of Artemisia herba-alba Asso essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation growing in eastern Morocco (Taforalt) were investigated by GC/FID and GC-MS. The major components were found to be camphor (43.07%), camphene (7.2%), 1,8-cineole (7.08%), filifolone (7.04%), borneol (4.88%), and bornyl acetate (3,79%).The essential oil has been tested for antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Inhibition of growth was tested by the agar diffusion method. The minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined by the method of microtitration assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]